In the know

If you have shorter or longer menstrual cycles, let your healthcare provider know, as this might influence your due date.

Ideas and Inspiration

Tea for Two? Could drinking a daily half cup of tea double a woman's chances of conception? Researchers at Kaiser Permanente California think so after studying 200 women for one year who were attempting to conceive. Each woman answered surveys about their intake of tea, coffee, sodas and alcohol as well as about how much they exercised and smoked.

According to the Sunday Times of London, studies have shown tea contains polyphenolic compounds, which may help to restrict chromosomal irregularities, and hypoxanthine, which is found in the ovaries and helps eggs to mature.

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What should you avoid?

Few Americans can count themselves "viceless." Whether it's having a glass or two of wine with dinner, or a midday cigarette break -- or even a couple of cups of coffee to get going in the morning -- the majority of us indulge in at least one less-than-healthy pleasure. And for the most part, the effects of that occasional indulgence are of little consequence. But for couples trying to achieve pregnancy, many of these lifestyle choices can make getting pregnant much more difficult.

Support and Advice

On our Trying to Conceive message boards Jessica asks, "How do you know if you're ready to TTC? I mean, I know there's never a "perfect" time, but what would it take to have an ideal situation so you can TTC?"